I've been at Beautiful Gate almost two weeks now and I've pretty much got a routine set for the week. I thought I'd take a post to lay out what my average day looks like! Don't worry, I'll actually start talking about the kids next time!
6:00AM: Wake up and get ready for the day.
7:00AM: Arrive at my house.
When I walk in the door of my assigned baby house (Khotso 1) I am greeted by the chants of 8+
children shouting "NTATE! NTATE! NTATE!" 'Ntate' means 'father' in Sesotho, but is more
generally used the way we might say 'Sir.' I immediately get swarmed by all the kids in the living
room and often have difficulty walking through the door. It's one of the best parts of the day. By
this time the primary and pre-school kids are getting ready to leave for school, so I help feed the
younger kids who will go to playgroup later. After feeding, I walk the pre-schoolers across campus
to the pre-school and I help hang up laundry on the line to dry. Then I play with my precious
babies until playgroup.
8:30AM: Playgroup
Mme Agatha ('Mme' means mother and is used the same way we might say 'Ma'am') comes by all the houses and the other volunteers and I help take the remaining kids (except the really little
babies) down to the playgroup house. There they are separated into those who can walk and those
who can't walk quite yet. I'm usually put in with the walking group. We start by singing songs and
praying a prayer of thanks for the day. Then we play! Sometimes it's just playing with toys,
sometimes we play with play-dough, and sometimes we color. It all depends on what the playgroup
coordinators have planned. After we play for a while the kids get a snack and then we generally go
outside and play until playgroup is over.
11:30AM: Lunch and Nap
After playgroup I walk back to my house with my kiddos. I help feed lunch to the younger kids
and the pre-school girls get back around the same time. They change out of their uniforms and
have their own lunch. When they're finished I clean up and then I get a break while they all nap.
12:30PM: My Lunch
I head back across campus to my house and throw something quick together for lunch. After I eat
I generally read for a bit and then take a nap of my own. I love those kids to death, but they sure do
tire me out!
3:00PM: Playgroup, Round 2
When I wake up from my nap I groggily make my way back over the the playgroup house. I meet
all the kids there and we usually play outside. By this time the primary school kids are back and
playing with us too! Snacktime ends the second bout of playgroup and once the kids have their
snack we send them home.
4:00PM: Bathtime and Dinner
While they munch on their snacks the kids get ready for their baths. All the clothes come off and
get thrown in the hamper. Then there's a few minutes of mass chaos as 10 little naked children run
around the house waiting for their turn in the bath. After a quick dip in the tub they get rubbed
down with vaseline to keep their skin from drying out and I help them into their pajamas. Once
everyone is clean they get dinner. I once again feed the younger kids. After everyone is finished
eating I clean up after them.
5:30PM: I'm done.
After dinner most of the kids have quiet time for a while and then get put to bed, so when I'm done
cleaning up I head out and am done for the day. I walk back to my house and chill out for a while.
6:30PM: Dinner
Those of us living in the Maroon House generally have dinner together. We take turns making
meals.
7:00PM: Relax
After dinner I chill out and unwind! Sometimes I'll read, sometimes I dink around on the internet,
and other times I'll hang out with the other volunteers. We often set up the projector and have
movie nights.
10:00PM: Sleep
I try to get to bed by 10pm each night. Usually I succeed, but sometimes I don't! Bryan and Anita,
the directors, like to have game night on Wednesdays, so those nights tend to be later ones.
Regardless of the day, though, I'm pooped by the time I finally crawl into bed and it never takes
long after my head hits the pillow before I'm out.
So that's it! Obviously each day has it's own blessings and challenges, but that's the general gist of how my days go. It can feel kind of monotonous by the end of the week, but kids really make it all worth it. When I'm tired and impatient at the end of the day and I just want to go home, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to be here with a hug or a kiss, a smile or a giggle. Even after two short weeks I know without a doubt that my sweet babies love me and, I think it goes without saying, I love them right back.
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